Abstract
Background and Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the causes of malnutrition and growth retardation. Here we studied growth disturbance in different type of CHD.
Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 400 children with CHD (from 3 months to 16 years old age) were selected. Patients were divided into four groups: 1.acyanotic without pulmonary hypertension (PHT), 2. acyanotic with PHT, 3.cyanotic without PHT, 4.cyanotic with PHT. Body weight (Wt), height (Ht) and head circumference (HC) of these patients were measured and compared with those of matched control group.
Results: The mean Wt, Ht and HC of the patients in group one was not significantly different from that of the controls (P>0.05). In group two, the mean Wt was significantly lower than control group (P=0.01). In group three and four, there were significant differences between the mean Wt and Ht compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). There was significant difference between the pulmonary pressure of patients in group 2 and 4 (P=0.0001).
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that children with congenital heart disease are susceptible to growth disorders and this is more significant in cyanotic patients. Growth disorders are more common and severe in cyanotic patients with pulmonary hypertension.